Bennett



l. W. BENNETT`l HAND PROPELLED VEHICLE'. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 19|B.

1,319,321. Patented oct. 21,1919.

ATTORI/En UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

ISAIAH WASHINGTON BENNETT, OF NEW' YORK, N -IY., ASSIGNOR TO HIB/[SELF AND J AY LIVINGSTON BENNETT, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y. l i

HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLE.'

Specification of LettersPa'ten't. Patented Oct. 21, 7191.9.

Application filed March 30, 1918. Serial N o. 225,652.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAiAH VAsHiNGToN BENNETT, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough 'of Bronx, county of Bronx, pity and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-Propelled Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

The device the subject of this invention may be considered as a toy, for it is my intention that it shall be constructed of coniparatively small size,for theuse of children.

In the drawings I have shown two different constructions, or rather, two constructions which differ only to the extent of the mechanical workmanship, and it is my intention to produce this device in this manner so that it may be extremely unnieclianical for smaller children, and more mechanical and'interesting for larger children.

Much importance is attached to the shape and to the means for operating my device, as it is mydesire to give this toy all of thc attractiveness of an automobile, and yet, to make it self-propelled, cheap, and simple in operation.

The followingV is what I consider a good means of-carrying out my invention, and the accompanying drawings should be considered for a complete .understanding of the specification which follows:

In the drawings Figure 1 showsa side elevation of a devicc of simple construction.

Fig. 2 a side elevation of a more mechani-v cally perfect device.

Fig. 3 shows' av top planview of the construction shown in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a reverse planview of it, and may be considered -as showing the mechanism of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Similar reference numerals indicate like parts in all the figures where they appear.

In describing my invention, I will first set forth the construction of the device shown in Fig. 1. Y'

In this figure, I provide a supporting member 1 which may be a plank or board of wood, of suitable width and length, and secured to this plank 1, is a seat 2, the forward portion of which is rounded. The seat is provided with a back 3 and it is obvious that the seat and back must both be supported in. va manner to assure sufficient strength and rigidity.

V:Back of the member 3 is a box portion 4 also constructed of wood, vbut having no general utility.

The front end of my device is Vnrovided with.what may be termed a bonnet 5 extending from the extreme frontend rearward to the point 6. 'Ihe member-5 is of a Width equal to that of the plank 1, and the edges of the member 5 may be rounded if desired. l

Extending rearwardfrom the point 6 is acabinet 7 narrower than the adjacent portion of the bonnet 5, and in this cabinet7 I arrange suitable bearings for the support of a crank shaft 8 and on the crank shaft 8 is a sprocket 9 driving a chain 10 which chain extends'over a sprocket 11," on a shaft 12 supported in bearing blocks V13 under the plank 1. Y

The ends of the crank shaft 8 extend through a chamber or cabinet 7 and these ends are provided Vwith cranks 'L14 only one of which is shown in Fig. 1., and a grip or handle 15 completes the crank 14.

Upon the shaft 12 is a second gear'iorV sprocket 16,and a chain 17 extends rearwardly passing over the sprocket upon the rear axle 18. The rear wheels'19 are .secured to the axle 1 8, and it is obviousthat pillow blocks or other lsuitable means aie provided for rotatably supporting the axle 18.

The front wheels 20 are received and rotatably supported upon the axle 21, and this axle is pivoted at iniddength by king bolts in the manner found in horse-drawn vehicles.

A centrally pivoted bar 22 is arranged adjacent to the-seat 2 and within easy reach of the feet of the operator. This Ibar extends outward at each side of the plank'1 plished by turning the crank 14 which will revolve the sprocket 9 and through the chain 10 the sprockets 11 and 16 will also be rotated. The chain 17 passing over a sprocket secured to the back axle will turn the wheels 19 and move the vehicle forward or backward according as the crank 14 is moved.

In Fig. 2, I show a device of somewhat more complicated construction, complicated, however, only to the extent of a more mechanically complete device. In this figure, what may be considered the frame or body, as shown at 30 is constructed of angle iron. The bonnet 31 has a cover 32, hinged at 33, and this cover may be lifted. rI`he forward portion of the bonnet or that portion under the cover 82 may be used for carrying tools or other devices.

The reduced portion or cabinet 34 containing the sprocket 35 and the bearings for the crank shaft 86 may also be provided with a cover 37 which may be raised, so that the crank shaft bearings and contents may be lubricated. The crank 38 and handles 39 may be of improved shape or design, but the function is similar to that crank `14 shown in 'Fig. 1.

The shaft 40 is received in bearing blocks 41 and 42 secured to the frame members 30 and upon the shaft 40 are sprockets 44- and 45. The chain 46 extending downward from the sprocket 35 passes over the sprocket 45 and a chain 47 from the sprocket 44 passes over a sprocket 48 secured upon the rear axle 49. The rear aXle 49 is rotatable, and secured one at each end of the aXle are wheels 50 and 51. Bearing blocks 52 and 53 support the rear aXle 49.

rIhe wheels shown in Fig. 2 and similar figures are wire wheels provided with rubber tires 54 and an eXtra. wheel 55 is mounted upon the rearmost cabinetv 56 and this cabinet 56 may be provided with av cover 57 hinged at 58.

The seat 59 and the back portion 60 are each cushioned in this device, and the body, wheels, and other portions may be made as decorative as desired.

'Ihe front wheels 61 and 62 are rotatably mounted upon projections from a bar 63. rIhe bar 63 is pivoted at 64 to any suitable portion of the frame and rods 65 and 66 extend from studs 67 and 68 in the bar 63 and are engaged with a centrally pivoted n'ieniber 69 adjacent to the seat of the operator. This member 69 may be a straight bar or may be formed of spring steel, or other suitable material, asV indicated in the drawing.

It is obvious that the location of the steering bar 69 of the sprockets and cranks and of other parts may be changed at will, that Jthe size of the device may be varied, but I .prefer the whole constructed generally as shown and described.

The wheels of the device shown in Fig. 1 may be disked wheels or spoked Wheels.

The device shown in Fig. l may be constructed'entirely of wood with the exception of the crank shaft 8, the shaft 12, and the sprockets and chains. It is obvious that the spare wheel shown in Fig. 2 Inay be omitted.

Having carefully and fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A manually propelled vehicle having an elongated frame, wheels upon which said frame is mounted, a seat arranged upon said frame toward the rear thereof, a bonnet mounted. upon said frame and being of equal width to the frame throughout the main pors tion of its length, the rear portion of said bonnet being of diminished width and in close proximity to the said seat, a transversed shaft journaled in the said rear portion of the bonnet, an operative connection between said shaft and the rear wheels, crank arms secured to said shaft, handles upon outer ends of said crank arms, said handles being wholly within the vertical confines of the said frame, a steering bar centrally pivoted at a point Where the bonnet is diminished in width, the ends of said steering bar projecting beyond the vertical confines of the said frame and a connection between said steering bar and the front wheels of the vehicle.

Signed at New York city, in the county and State of New York, this 9 day of March, 1918.

ISAIAH WASHINGTON BENNETT. Witness:

ARTHUR E. DINKE.

Copies of this patent may 'ne obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

